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On May 23, 2026, while driving from Hammamet to visit my dogs at their boarding facility, I noticed a small ball of fur struggling to walk along the side of a busy road.

I stopped immediately.

Olfa Ferchichi

What I found was a tiny dog who was exhausted, dehydrated, covered in dirty, matted fur, and infested with ticks. It was around 2 p.m., one of the hottest hours of the day, and she looked as though she had reached her limit.

I named her Poupée, which means “dolly” in English.

Olfa Ferchichi

According to my veterinarian, Poupée is a purebred Maltese. Sadly, in Tunisia, small-breed dogs are sometimes stolen, abandoned, or passed from one owner to another without proper care. I will never know exactly what happened to her. Perhaps she escaped. Perhaps she was abandoned. Perhaps she was stolen and later discarded. What I do know is that she needed help.

As usual, I had no choice but to stop. Leaving her there would have meant leaving her to suffer.

Olfa Ferchichi

I placed her in my car and continued my journey. After visiting my dogs, I drove back toward Tunis and called my veterinarian, who agreed to see her as an emergency case that evening.

Poupée received parasite treatment, deworming, and veterinary care. Because I had nowhere safe to place her that night, she stayed at the clinic. The next day, she was groomed, and the transformation was incredible.

Under all that tangled fur was a beautiful little dog.

Olfa Ferchichi

She quickly showed her true personality. She is gentle, playful, affectionate, well-behaved, and clearly accustomed to living with people. She loves attention and has the sweetest temperament.

While she was at the clinic, I began posting online to search for her owner. A woman contacted me because she believed Poupée might be her missing dog. A friend of hers came to meet Poupée and was initially quite hopeful. In the end, they concluded she was probably not the missing dog after all.

Olfa Ferchichi

Fortunately, the friend kindly agreed to keep Poupée temporarily while we continue searching for her family and explore her future options.

If no owner is found, I will prepare all the necessary travel requirements so she can eventually travel abroad and have the best chance of finding a loving home. This process takes several months and includes vaccinations, a microchip, veterinary follow-up, and all the required paperwork.

Olfa Ferchichi

Like so many of my rescues, all of Poupée’s care has been provided on credit because my resources are exhausted. Yet I could not turn away from another animal in need.

I currently care for nearly 70 rescued cats and dogs. Every rescue brings new expenses, but every life matters.

Olfa Ferchichi

Poupée’s future is still being written. Whether she is reunited with her family or eventually finds a new home abroad, I hope her story reminds people that sometimes stopping for just one animal can change an entire life.

If you would like to support my rescue work and the many animals depending on me, please consider sharing or supporting my fundraiser.

Fundraiser link:

https://www.cotizup.com/pour-animaux-errants

Poupée’s reel:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17Am2c7zLm/

You can also follow my rescue page here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ChbffXSnv/

SHARE YOUR OWN RESCUE STORY

Story submitted by Olfa Ferchichi.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!